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Top 10 tips to avoid the ’flu

Ontario is offering everyone 10 helpful tips to stay healthy and reduce the risk of spreading the ’flu and other viruses to your friends and family.

1. Get the ’flu shot (it’s free).

The ’flu shot helps your body build the defences it needs to protect you from the ’flu. It can prevent the ’flu from taking hold up to 90 percent of the time among healthy adults and children.

2. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.

Proper hand-cleaning guards against and limits the spread of many illnesses. Viruses can live on your hands for up to five minutes and they can live on hard surfaces—like countertops and telephones—for up to two days.

Wash hands for at least 15 seconds.

3. Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy.

Hand sanitizer needs to be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are as good as soap and water to clean your hands. But if your hands are visibly dirty, wash with soap and water.

4. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Cough into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue. The droplets that come out when we cough or sneeze can carry the ’flu virus and land on other people or surfaces.

5. Stay home from work if you are sick.

When you’re not feeling well, the best thing you can do for your own health—and the health of your co-workers—is to stay home.

6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

The ’flu virus usually enters the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth, and your hands touch objects and surfaces that may have viruses on them, including the ’flu virus.

7. Avoid large crowds of people where viruses can spread easily.

This might be a challenge when you’re shopping and socializing during the holidays. Stay aware of your health, and the health of others, when you’re out and about.

Avoid people who are sneezing and coughing, and wash your hands regularly.

8. Clean germ-spreading surfaces like purses or gloves.

These items come in contact with contaminated surfaces when you set them down on areas like tables and countertops, spreading germs and viruses.